Combined grave marker and flower vase



Patented Aug. 26, `1952 UNITED STATES. PATENT loFFlcE.

Y. ooMiNED 'GRAVE MARKER AND Y FLOWER vAsE Frank VrRoss, Indianapolis, Ind. Application Jury 3, 195o, serial No. 171,932

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a combined grave marker and flower vase. In those grave markers in use today with which a flower vase is combined, it is generally necessary to remove the vase, turn it upside down to release the water which has accumulated therein and then remount the vase within the marker prior to plac-l ing flowers therein. Substantially the same procedure must be followed when it is desired to dispose of the flowers and return the vase toits non-use position.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a grave marker having a ower vase carried by and movable with a hinged closure plate in such manner that Water will readily drain from the vase when it is not in use;A and so that it may easily be pivoted to its upright, flower supporting position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a grave marker having a flower receptacle which' carries a supplementary closure plate which will cover the otherwise exposed opening of the receptacle well when the receptacle is disposed in its upright, flower-supporting position. The primary feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a closure plate for the well in which the receptacle is disposed, said plate carrying and moving with it the receptacle'itself. When the receptacle is in its concealed position, the closure plate to which it is secured is operable to close the well. When the receptacle is in its upright. flower-supporting position, the supplementary closure plate carried by the receptacle is operable to close thatopening of the well between the receptacle and the side wall of the well.

A further feature of the present invention're-y sides in the provision of a drain through one side of the well. Once the flowers in the receptacle have wilted or otherwise served their purpose, they may be removed and the .receptacle then pivoted to concealed position either by the foot or by the hand, whereupon the water'therein will automatically be spilled out into the bottom of the well, and from thence drained out into the surrounding ground.

A still further feature of the present inven# tion resides in the particular manner in which the receptacle-receiving Well is supported, and in the construction vand arrangement of the marker anchoring means.

The full nature of the invention will be 'understood from the accompanying drawings andthe following description and claims: l

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention. Y

Fig. 2 is a section view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 isa section view taken on line 3 3 of Fig.'2 in the directionv of the arrows.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows generally the grave marker comprising arbronze or the like plate Ill exposed to view and substantially level with the top of the ground ll. there is formed thel usual legending I2 giving the name of the decedent together with the date of his birth and death. In order to make possible the locating and anchoring of the marker, it is first necessary that a hole be dug in the burial tract to approximately the depth, width and length of an iron box-like structure I3. After the box is positioned within the hole and the earth tamped down therearound, concretev is poured in it preferably up to a point slightly below the bottom of the Well I 4 in which the receptacle 'is housed. Next, a metal plate or strap I5 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured at I6 to the inner end walls of the box slightly below the top edges thereof. This strap extends longitudinally of the marker and has a substantially U-shaped central portion which defines generally the width ofthe well. Formed in the strap are at vleast two apertures' I'l for purposes hereinafter explained. f

Secured by rivets I8 or other suitable means to the inner face of the U-shaped portion of the strap is the copper well-defining box I9.4 Itwill be observed that the upper extremities of this box areA outwardly flanged and bear upon the vbottom of the marker. Formed through 4one wall of box I9 and through the adjacent Wallof box'I3 'are the aligned openings 20 through which is extended the drain spout 2| to permit water to drain from the bottom of the well to the surrounding earth.

' Once the strap I5 has been secured in" position along with the copper box I9, additional concrete is poured' into box I3 until it is substantially level with the top thereof. Thereupon anchoring members 22 are extended downwardly into the concretethrough bosses 23 depending from the marker, and through apertures Il formed in the strap I5. These anchoring members are preferably but not necessarily provided with annular v ribs 24 to anchor the marker more securely in On the markerplate is so positioned and is of such length and Width that it, together with the confronting wall of the receptacle, effectively seals off the interior of the well when in closed position (see Fig);

Projecting outwardly from the wall of the re-.ly Y

ceptacle opposite to the closure plate' is a supplementary closure member 3| which is formed V'to a length and width such that it spans the opening between the receptaclek and the marginal edge of the marker that defines opening 29, when the receptacle is in itsvertical position; This member has a spring metal stripl.32 secured thereto at 33, "the extremitiesof' which have a return loop formation. `A portion 34 of eachy loop projectsoutwardly .from thejside edges of closure 3| and serves as catchmeans. Av pair` of.sub.- stantially U-shaped latch elementsq35 VY,depend from theV markeradjacentA the marginalVV edges that define opening 29 andv at one end thereof, these .elements Abeing so positioned that when the receptacle is pivoted to itsupright position, i,the projecting loop portions 34 are in frictional contact therewith..Y By reason of this construction,

oncethe receptacle has been pivoted to itsvertical flower receiving position, the supplementary closure member-3 |not only spans the exposed open-- ing between the vase and the. marker but also retains the receptacle initsupright position so that it will not pivotv downwardly until such a time las sufficient pressure isV applied theretoto overcome-.the frictional connection between the loopxportions rand ,the substantially lU-shaped members'35.; Y .n

It v'will bek observed that a bevelled detent'v or notch 36 is formedin the marginal edge ofthe marker adjacent the free` end of the closure plate 30 so that when it is desired to pivot the receptacle to its upright position -it will bepossible to-grasp theedge of the closure plate-with a finger ofthe hand. o 4 f The operation ofv the-invention is believed to bei apparent from the foregoing description. However, when the receptacle is not in use it will bev disposed in ahorizontal, concealed. positionA (see Fig; 3), at which time the well accommodating the receptacle, and the marker ;op ening,'will `be closed by the closure plate 30, :When itis `desired to expose thereceptaclebyrpivoting it to its upright position shown in .dotted-lines inLFig.'3, it is necessary ronly to place a finger or thumb ,lintothe notched portion 36' until' the edge'of the closure plate can be graspedwhereuponit is pivoted upwardlyyAtrsuch time the supplementary,y closure member 3| will bein frictional 'and Aresilient engagement with the, U- shaped element 35thereby retaining the re,- ceptacle. in its upright` position, and in addition closing off the yexposed opening inthe rvmarker and the well. When the flowers-.placed in the receptacle have wilted or otherwise have served their purpose,the-receptacle may be vmoved with the hand, kicked with the foot or thrustV in any otherv way in a 'downward' direction,` the impact being such that the resilient connection between the loop portions 34 and the U-shaped elements will be overcome. The sudden downward movement of the receptacle will automatically, by reason of centrifugal force, spill out any water remaining therein, into the bottom of the well from whence it will 'be drained into the surrounding ground through the drain 2 I. In order to Vfacilitaterelease ofv the water Jfrom'fthe receptacle when it is 'pivoted' downwardly the upper ends have a radius 31 formed therein.

While the invention has been illustrated and described vin great detail in the drawings and -'--foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character; 'f

Y* The invention Yclaimed is:

1'; A combined grave marker and iiower receptacle;y comprising a marker having an opening, a pivoted closure for said opening, said closure including `Aa flower` vreceptacle formed, on th e.undersurface thereof, said receptacle being movable therewith from a concealed rp osition'to an upright, flower receiving. position, a well structure for receiving said-receptacleformed Yimmediately below said `closure and beingof a size substantially greaterv than the sizeof said receptac1e;a-secondclosure integrall with, said receptacle and disposed on Vtheopposite ,side thereof from said first closure, said second closure having an area substantially equal to the space in said V,marker opening that 'remainsy exposed when said Areceptacle is in upright position.,

`2.,.A combined grave marker and flower receptacle comprising a marker having, an opening formed therethrough, av closure for'said opening, said closure carrying a flower receiving receptacle on the under surface thereof, said receptacle being movable therewithfrom` lowered to yraised position, means pivotally-.connecting said re, ceptacle to said marker, ,a well structure 1disposedv below said marker ,within which said receptacleis receivable, and a second closure se- Y g cured to'said receptacle andprojecting outwardly from the side thereof opposite said first closure and at substantially right. angles to said -iirst closure, said second closure being formed tov Va size substantially `equal to thev space in said marker opening that vremains exposed when said receptacle isin Vupright position, latch Vmeans carriedbysaid marker adjacent its opening, and catch( means Yconnected. vto said second vclosure and being releasably engageable with saidlatch means upon said receptacle being raised to upright position'. 1

-'3. .A :combined vgrave marker and flower receptacle comprising a box-likev structure adapted tozbe'embedded within'the ground and having an open top, said structure being adapted` to receive concrete or the like therewithin, a well defining box disposed within said structure, means'connected to said structurey and supporting said box, a `markercovering the top of .said structurev and having anfopening formed therethrough immediately above and in'communicaton with saidwell, a. closureplate for ysaid opening having a hinged 4connection with said marker, said closure plate carrying,iarowerreceiving receptaclelon theundersurface. thereof, said receptacle being *received and accommodated within said well, an outlet in communication with said well and the surrounding ground, and a second closure plate projecting from the side of said receptacle opposite to said first closure plate and beingv of a size sufficient to close the space in said marker 5 6 opening that is exposed when said closure plate REFERENCES CITED and receptacle are pvoted to raised flower re' The following references are of record in the ceiving position. latch means carried by said fue of this patent: marker adjacent its opening, and catch means connected to said second closure and being re- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS leasably engageable with said latch means upon Number Name Date said receptacle being raised to upright position. Re. 19,602 Powell June 4. 1935 FRANK V. ROSS. 

